THE countdown to Mike Phelan’s baptism as Manchester United’s new first team coach will begin in earnest when he jets away with the Reds to the Far East.

Phelan stepped up from reserve team boss when Sir Alex Ferguson’s number two Steve McClaren departed for Middlesbrough this summer.

The 38-year-old former Old Trafford midfielder has been honing the champions’ fitness for the first time in pre-season training in readiness for the warm-up matches in Malaysia, Singapore and Bangkok.

But Phelan knows that his work will be opened to public scrutiny when United kick off the Premiership campaign on August 19, against Fulham at Old Trafford.

On his CV he has coaching and assistant manager jobs in the lower divisions at Norwich, Blackpool and Stockport, as well as with United’s Pontins’ League side and that experience prompted Fergie to promote the player he first signed for the Reds for £750,000 from Norwich in 1989.

‘‘I always wanted this step up. I came in as a reserve coach but I always wanted to be first team coach,’’ says Mike.

‘‘It has happened quickly but I am ready for it. I am ready for the next step and I couldn’t be at a better place. The possibilities are endless here.

‘‘I don’t feel pressure yet. But once the games start and the spotlight starts to shine on you then it is about challenging for everything.

‘‘The nature of the game is that if things go wrong the critics will look at what has changed. That is a certainty. If everything is tickety-boo then it doesn’t matter who is coaching, but if things don’t start well then people will chin-wag about it being because of this and that.

‘‘But you can’t do the job thinking of what might be. If you do the job well then it will be there for all to see, if you don’t then people will tell you!”

Phelan admits that at first he looked upon the step up as a daunting task, but he stressed that he feels sure he will grow into the role.

And he feels that his time as a United player, when he was knocked by some sections of the crowd, will stand him in good stead for the new task.

‘‘It hardened me as a person,” he recalled.

“You put up little walls around you and get through it. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. I wasn’t the first to go through and won’t be the last. But it has prepared me for anything that may be thrown at me in this new job.’’